Pull-release clamp for steel bands



Dec. 1, 1959 M. FUREY.

PULL-RELEASE CLAMP FOR STEEL BANDS Original Filed June 2. 1955 U wd 3W8, Pat n 9 run-RELE SE CLAMP. FOR STEE L BANDS Warwick, Vim, assignor to the United ""fStatfes '0 America 3H7, p H J Continuation of applicatiouiserialaNo. 359,242, Juue 2, 1953. This application February 9, 1 959,,Serial No. 79 5 1 i 1 a t 4 i' ma s a-a-av I (Grauted'under Title-35,; U.S.-Code"(1952 '5... 266) 1 clflThe' nveiition described herein, if patentedjmay be manufactured and used byor 'for 'the Government for represented by the Secretary of governmental: purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon? This app'licatiomis' 'a"co'ntinu'ation of my copending application Serial Number 359,242; filedJune 2,1953.

back and, two vflanges adapted"to be crimped about the Figure 6 isa perspective view of a partly uncrimped clip, apart from the band ends.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, 14 and 15' designate a pair of overlapped band ends adapted to be secured together by a clip 16.

The clip 16 comprises a back 17, a short or conventional flange 18 and along flange 19. Flanges 18 and 19 are folded and crimped about the band ends 14 and 15 along the' fold line's 20, Figure 1. In the conventional clip of this type, the clip flanges are of the same length and'are folded about the band ends and crimped thereto by conventional clip applying apparatus not shown. The clips ofth'e invention are likewise adapted to be applied and crimped by such apparatus. m

According to this form of theinvention, the long flange '19 comprises inner and outer'flange portions 21, 22 "on opposite sides'of a fold line 23 and a pull tab 24 which is an integral lateral extension of the outer flange portion 22. The tab 24 is preferably formed with any suitable means such as the hole 25, for engagement with'any suitable tab-pulling tool such as thescrew driver 26, Figure 4.

overlapped ends ,of;a metal band or strap used for reinforcing a shipping container; for securing a number of arifcles itogether in a single bundle; jor for palletizing packages or the likc.

Such clips and bands are well known and widely used. However, they have the disadvantage that it is difficult without special strap cutting tools, to disengage the band from the container when the latter is to be opened. Where the container is of sturdy wood or metal construction, the strap can be broken by a prying tool although this mars the surfaceof the container. Such a tool obviously cannot be used on a more fragile fiberboard container because the tool will usually penetrate the wall of the container and damage the contents before the strap or clip will break.

Unless the recipient of the container habitually receives strapped containers, he is unlikely to have a strap cutting tool and must resort to whatever household tools are available whereby opening of the container is delayed and" pliers.

' A further object is to provide such clips which include a pull tab which is operative to at least partially disengage the clip from the bandby being pulled across the clip.

A further object is to providesuch a clip wherein the pull tab is connected to one of the flanges of the clip in such a way asto disengage the flange from the band ends when the tab is pulled.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the clip, combinations and arrangements of the parts thereof, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to theattached drawing in. connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown and described and claimed. I In the drawing: J l

' Figure l is a planview of a clip according to one form ofthe invention, the same beingshown in unfolded. condition; t

Figure 2 is alike view showing the clip, crimped about apair of'overlapped band ends; I I Figure 3, is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is' an end elevation of Figure 2 illustrating one method of disengaging't'he clip from the bands;

- Figure 5 is .a perspective view showing a clip fully crimped about a pair. of bandends; and

"When thisform of clip is applied to the overlapped band ends 14 and 15, the short flange 18 is folded under the band ends and crimped asat 27 ina conventional inannef-by -conventional means not shown. However,'th'e long flange 19 when applied is folded upon itself along the fold line 23 so that the outer flange portion 22 underlies the inner flange portion 21 in a Z-fold with the pull tab 24 projecting laterally of the clip and band ends. The crimping 27 may be omitted from the flange 19 or may be present if desired. The apparatus for applying the clip is not shown and forms no part of the invention. However, it is contemplated that the clip can be applied by conventional apparatus modified sufliciently to apply the flange 19 properly.

To disengage the clip 16 from the band ends 14 and 15, the tab 24 is pulled outwardly until the flange 19 is disengaged from the band ends and is then pulled across the band ends to strip the back 17 therefrom. This leaves the band ends engaged only by the flange 18 and crimping 27. This engagement is obviously weak and is readily broken by a blow or by prying or pulling the band ends apart. In practice, instead of pulling the tab 24 with the fingers, it may be bent upward and pried out of engagement with the band ends by inserting a prying tool 26 (Figure 4) through the hole 25 and simply prying the flange 19 out of engagement with the band ends. Obviously, the tab 24 may be grasped and pulled by a pair of pliers or the like. After flange 19 is disengaged from the band ends, it is a'simple matter to strip the back 17 therefrom.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the clip 16 is readily removable from the band ends 14 and 15 either manually or by the use of household tools which will usually be available and that there is no need to utilize band severing instruments or risk damaging the container 1. A band clip comprising a back and two side flanges adapted to extend under a pair of overlapped band ends and to be crimped thereto to crimp the same together, one of said crimped flanges being doubled on itself to provide a free end extending outwardly of said back, and said free end being formed to provide a pull tab for disengaging the connected crimped flange from said band ends.

2 The structure of claim 1, wherein said tab is formed with a tool-receiving opening therein.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pull tab nornrally is disposed substantially in the plane of said back, and said tab being outwardly deformable for engagement with a tab-pulling tool.

4. A-band clip, comprising a back, a long flange and a short flange extending from opposite sides of saidback for crimping engagement with bands, said long flange after being crimped to such bands being formed with a 2-fold to reduce the length thereof, and said long flange having a free end extending laterally outwardly of said back and comprising a pull tab for disengaging said long flange from said bands.

5; A band clip, comprising. a back and two side flanges, said flanges extending under a pair of overlapped band ends and being crimped thereto so as to connect the same together, said crimped flanges having inner edges disposed ,below said connected band ends, clip disengaging nieans integral with said inner edge of one of said crimped flanges, and said means including a tool engaging portion extending laterally outwardly of said connected band ends.

.6. A band clip, comprising a back and two side flanges, said flanges extending under a pair of overlapped band ends and being crimped thereto so as to connect the same together, said crimped flanges having inner edges disposed below said connected band ends, a pull tab integral with and substantially coextensive in length with said inner edge 9t one f saidside flange .nd saidtab hav ng a free end disposed laterally outwardly of said connected band ends.

7. A band clip, comprising a back and two side flanges, said flanges extending under g pair of overlapped band ends and being crimped thereto so as to connect the same together, s'aidfcrimped flanges-having inner edges dis- P sed elow sa d con e t d ban e ds, t e bein c p cn sing' nean lij d y s d ne edg' of a least one of said side flanges for disengaging the} sar r 1e from said connected band ends, and said means having a tooln' nsp rt qn is ate y' ut n ai -c.01 nected band ends.

8. A band clip, .eomprising a hackand two side flanges, said flanges extending under a pair of overlapped band ends and being .crimpedtheretoso as to connect the same together, said crimped flanges having inner edges disposed b s d .cgnnsc sl and ends there b in slipdi eng ins means r at i d b sa i r esl e at at least .one of id s de fl n e for isen a in the same f om said connected band ends, and said means including projecting mean p o d -a 1 n in pq tipn whichis exp for n a meq i h a 99 References Cited in the file of this patent TED ATES P T TS. 

